Super Rugby
Chiefs (17) 34 / 22 (15) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton at 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Here are the Super Rugby Team Sheets as they were announded for Round 18 of Super Rugby 2013.
Blues lock Ali Williams will make his 100th appearance for the Blues when they tackle the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday.
The skipper is set to join an illustrious group of players featuring Keven Mealamu, John Afoa and Tony Woodcock who have played 100 games for the Blues.
Deon Fourie, who will once again wear the No.7 jersey, takes over the Stormers captaincy.
Fourie steps in for the injured Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers, who has been ruled out with a sternum problem.
Experienced loose forward Dewald Potgieter will captain the Vodacom Bulls for the first time this weekend and will shift to No 8 in place of regular skipper Pierre Spies, who has been ruled out for the remainder of 2013 with a bicep injury.
The Cheetahs have thrown their Springboks straight back into the mix for their must-win clash with the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
Western Province and the Stormers are reportedly hunting the services of Cheetahs and Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl.
Two of the newer All Blacks, hooker Dane Coles and lock Jeremy Thrush, have re-signed with New Zealand Rugby, their Hurricanes franchise and Wellington province.
The Sharks confirmed that discussions were held today (Tuesday) between representatives of themselves and John Plumtree (‘the Parties’).
It was mutually and amicably agreed between the Parties to part ways with immediate effect.
The Southern Kings will be without captain Luke Watson for the remainder of their Super Rugby campaign, following an injury to his ankle.
Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies will be out for the rest of the 2013 rugby season after tearing a bicep muscle on Saturday while playing for the Springboks against Samoa in the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
The Western Province Rugby Union has plans to offer flyhalf Elton Jantjies and fullback Jaco Taute permanent deals.
There seems to be a lot happening at the Sharks, in front of and behind the scenes, prior to this weekend’s Super Rugby clash between the Sharks and the Blues.
Apparently John Smit said no to Jake White and Clive Woodward (Both World Cup winning coaches) but chose Brendan Venter in stead, read more below.
More news involving John Smit and outgoing coach John Plumtree suggests that the 2 are to meet to see if they can sort out diferences, the package John Plumtree is demanding and the immediate way forward, read more below too.
With Super Rugby back on the weekend, the speculation is also rife about who will play at flyhalf and in midfield, with a host of centres injured but with Butch James back. Will the flyhalf spot go to Butch or Patrick Lambie and will the other beselected at inside centre?
Rebels (0) 0 / 35 (14) Lions (Final Score)
The Melbourne Rebels and British & Irish Lions did battle in the British & Irish Lions series of 2013 at AAMI Park, Melbourne at
11:40 SA Time (19:40 Melbourne Time, 10:40 BST, 09:40 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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SANZAR has announced the names of the match officials for Round 18 of Super Rugby 2013, with Garratt Williamson starting off the action on Friday.
This weekend we only have 5 Super Rugby matches, seeing as the Australian sides do not play this weekend due to the British & Irish Lions tour in Australia. This is the first of 2 weekends in a row where South Africa and New Zealand catch up on the 2 extra weekends where only Australian sides played in the tournament.
There is 1 match on Friday and 4 matches on Saturday.
Vodacom Bulls players Pierre Spies, Jano Vermaak and Francois Hougaard are all injured and in danger of not playing in Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Wallabies wing Digby Ioane after he failed to appear in a Melbourne court on an assault charge.
Ioane, 27, is facing a charge of unlawful assault, after he allegedly assaulted a man in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran on March 9.
England centre Manu Tuilagi has recovered from a shoulder injury and will start for the British and Irish Lions against the Rebels on Tuesday.
Lions (7) 33 / 29 (19) Sharks (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and The Sharks did battle in the MTN Lions Challenge at Ellis Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Rising star Pieter-Steph du Toit has become a massive signing target for provincial unions this season with no less than three Super Rugby franchises vying for his signature.
The Blue Bulls Company on Thursday confirmed the departure of scrumhalf Jano Vermaak and flanker Dewald Potgieter.
Potgieter decided not to renew his contract which expires at the end of the current Vodacom Super Rugby competition and instead will join the Yamaha Rugby Club in Japan, whilst Vermaak has asked to be released from his contract to join Toulouse in France.
All Black wing Rene Ranger confirmed he was quitting his international career and would head to France at the end of the year on a lucrative contract with Montpellier.
The Western Force scored a major coup the the unveiling of Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp as their latest signing.
Springbok and Toyota Cheetahs flank Heinrich Brüssow has joined the growing exodus of players out of South Africa after signing a contract to further his career in Japan.
Super Rugby’s newcomers the Southern Kings have announced that their backs and attack coach Brad Mooar, has left the franchise and will be returning to New Zealand for personal reasons.
Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan has named a 26-man squad that will travel to South Africa for matches against the Sharks and Cheetahs.
The Blues squad will leave for South Africa this Friday in the afternoon as they play the Sharks in Durban on June the 29th before heading to Bloemfontein to face the Cheetahs on July the 6th.
Brumbies (8) 14 / 12 (3) Lions (Final Score)
The Brumbies and British & Irish Lions did battle in the British & Irish Lions tour of 2013 at Canberra Stadium, Canberra
at 11:40 SA Time (19:40 Canberra Time, 09:40 GMT, 10:40 BST).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Wallaby squad members Peter Kimlin and Scott Sio will lift an under-strength Brumbies for their tour match against the British and Irish Lions in Canberra on Tuesday.
Springbok loose forward Arno Botha has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2013 season after rupturing ligaments in his knee during the Castle Lager Incoming Series victory over Scotland in Nelspruit on Saturday.
The Waratahs have named four Wallabies in their team that will play the British and Irish Lions on Saturday in Sydney including regular captain Dave Dennis.
Springboks and Sharks back Meyer Bosman has agreed to leave the Durban based Super Rugby franchise and join Stade Francais in the Top14.
World Cup winning captain Richie McCaw will return to rugby in early-to-mid July by playing for his local club in Christchurch, though was unsure as to whether he would play Super Rugby for the Canterbury Crusaders.
Blues (3) 15 / 38 (12) France (Final Score)
The Blues and France did battle in the French Tour to New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium, Albany at 09:05 SA Time (19:05 NZ Time, 07:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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French coach Phillipe Saint-Andre has made a number of changes to his side that lost to New Zealand 23-13 including selecting loose forward Yannick Nyanga as his captain when they take on the Blues in Albany on Tuesday.
Nick Mallett has reportedly turned down an offer from the Sharks to take over the coaching reins from John Plumtree.